Best Players
30 May 2026 153 comments
FPL Marc FPL Marc
Share:

We’re going position by position on the FIFA World Cup Fantasy 2026 game, picking out the best players ahead of Matchday 1.

Next up, a look at some goalkeepers priced lower than the big names.

GREGOR KOBEL ($4.7m)

  • Matchday 1: Qatar
  • Matchday 2: Bosnia-Herzegovina
  • Matchday 3: Canada

As mentioned in our Switzerland team preview, Murat Yakin is going for stability, as eight players started in each of their qualifiers, including Kobel and an established back four. Therefore, only England conceded fewer than their two goals in six.

And, although the Swiss let in four during March’s defeat to a Florian Wirtz ($7.5m)-inspired Germany, a few days later they stopped Erling Haaland ($10.5m) from scoring in a 0-0.

In such a nice-looking group, Kobel – who took over after Yann Sommer’s 2024 international retirement – should get clean sheets.

YASSINE BOUNOU ($4.7m)

  • Matchday 1: Brazil
  • Matchday 2: Scotland
  • Matchday 3: Haiti

Also at a cost that makes ‘low-priced’ a bit debatable, Bounou was actually born in Canada, though none of Morocco’s group games will be there. He’s mostly known for a few years at Sevilla and helping The Atlas Lions reach the 2022 World Cup semi-finals.

In that run, only one goal was conceded in their first five matches, before eventually succumbing to France. As of now, they’re the Africa Cup of Nations champions, officially allowing just once all tournament but, of course, that final against Senegal has a huge asterisk beside it.

Regardless, Morocco is a nation that puts their defence first. They let in two goals while winning all eight qualification games, boasting 0.46 non-penalty expected goals conceded (NPxGC) per 90 minutes.

Letting both Ecuador and Paraguay score in March friendlies may slightly concern some, but Bounou has Noussair Mazraoui ($4.4m), Nayef Aguerd ($4.3m) and the world-class Achraf Hakimi ($6.0m) playing in front. There’s also the newly naturalised Issa Diop ($4.5m).

Not a name to consider in Round 1 – but one very much on the radar for Round 2 Wildcarders.

CAMILO VARGAS ($4.3m)

  • Matchday 1: Uzbekistan
  • Matchday 2: DR Congo
  • Matchday 3: Portugal

Facing Uzbekistan and DR Congo is very useful for those planning a Matchday 3 Wildcard. So it’s no wonder that Vargas is a popular cheap choice online.

Then again, Colombia conceded more goals than South America’s other five qualifiers (18), where four of their seven shutouts came in late 2023. They also rank sixth for NPxGC (15.84).

Knowing this, there are definite question marks over Los Cafeteros, but three of their subsequent six outings brought clean sheets

37-year-old Vargas has never played for a European club, but was the main goalkeeper as Colombia reached 2024’s Copa America final. What’s concerning is that he didn’t start three of the four closing qualifiers, then Alvaro Montero ($3.8m) began three of the latest five friendlies.

HERNAN GALINDEZ ($4.2m)

  • Matchday 1: Ivory Coast
  • Matchday 2: Curacao
  • Matchday 3: Germany

Now it’s time for an even more senior CONMEBOL goalkeeper, from a nation that kept 13 clean sheets throughout 18 qualifiers, conceding exactly once in the other five.

In fact, it’s extraordinary to see that Ecuador let in only one goal during the final 11 occasions. Eight matches ended 0-0.

What helps is that 39-year-old Galindez has high-quality, quick and strong defenders in front of him, like Piero Hincapie, Willian Pacho and Joel Ordonez.

Meanwhile, midfielder Moises Caicedo won’t be suspended for Matchday 1 anymore. Originally supposed to, the potential of a Cristiano Ronaldo ($10.0m) ban panicked FIFA into a rule change.

Round 3 Wildcarders can move Galindez out before the Germany test.

MAXIME CREPEAU ($4.0m)

  • Matchday 1: Bosnia-Herzegovina
  • Matchday 2: Qatar
  • Matchday 3: Switzerland

Finally, co-hosts Canada have no qualification data, but we have friendlies and the 2024 Copa America to check out.

They actually reached the semi-finals of the latter, having shut out Peru and Chile. After last year’s disappointing quarter-final Gold Cup exit, Jesse Marsch’s side has kept six clean sheets in eight friendlies, including against Colombia, Romania and Wales.

Group B lacks any global giants, so a cheap pick like Crepeau could start the Matchday in goal, then be switched out should he dodge points.

The issue is that, since Copa America, he hasn’t started two in a row because of Dayne St Clair‘s ($3.8m) existence. Keep an eye out for some useful Marsch quotes.


FPL Marc Broadcaster, writer and overthinker. Hoping that ‘differential potential’ will catch on.

153 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. The Knights Template
    • 12 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    Looks like Liverpool are moving quickly to secure Big Ange.

  2. _Greg
    • 16 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Good luck Gooners.

  3. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    The Killers were good there right!? Got the crowd going

    1. BeaversWithAttitude
      • 7 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      I thought they got the energy up! Blast from the past.

    2. Goro Majima
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      I might be old fashioned (or just old) but if the crowd needs to be got going when they're at the European Cup final there's something wrong with them.

      1. BeaversWithAttitude
        • 7 Years
        1 month, 16 days ago

        Fair. Haha.

  4. BeaversWithAttitude
    • 7 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Hard to believe 'Mr. Brightside' is over 20 years old!

    1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 12 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Even harder to believe it’s spent 500 weeks on the UK singles chart

  5. The Mandalorian
    • 13 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Let's hope PSG don't beat Arsenal tonight, the last time they won the UCL, their fans burned Paris to the ground.

    1. BeaversWithAttitude
      • 7 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      So what will they do if they lose?

  6. The Mandalorian
    • 13 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Dembélé was voted the best player in Ligue 1, he only started 11 games in the league.

  7. BeaversWithAttitude
    • 7 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    C'mon, Arsenal! Get in, lads!

  8. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Atrocious camera angle. So low!

    1. Malcolm Tucker for England …
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      causes a nightmare following the ball! thought it was just me!

      1. gooberman
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        1 month, 16 days ago

        It's abysmal. So low and far away. Cant even see what's happening. Joke.

  9. BeaversWithAttitude
    • 7 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Hell yeah!

  10. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Thought he’d over run that.

  11. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Roofer by Havertz

  12. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Kal Havertz- the man for the big goals in CL finals!

  13. djman102
    • 17 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    As soon as Trossard fell down and the ref blew for a foul in the first minute, I said congratulations to Arsenal on their Champions League win.

    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Nothing to do with ref. Great finish and still 75 mins to play

      1. FPL Blow-In
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        1 month, 16 days ago

        Yeah, agree. My comment below is relating to Saka handball. I think he is fortunate

    2. djman102
      • 17 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      I agree, it was a great finish. But a referee who blows the whistle whenever someone from either team falls down is going to benefit Arsenal's play more than PSG's.

  14. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Arsenal getting Var calls in Europe too it seems!

  15. No Name to Display
    • 11 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Looks like an English clean sweep of all european tournaments this season. What a historic year its gonna be..

    1. Sailboats
      • 10 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      If England wins the world cup too....

    2. Hughes Your Daddy
      • 14 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      This is the reason I wouldn't mind them winning 🙂

  16. Sailboats
    • 10 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    PSG has no answer. Its not looking good

  17. SkyCell
    • 13 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Mourinhos bus was a minivan compared to this. No chance for PSG nor football

    1. Goro Majima
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Bit harsh - defending is part of football after all. Plus they're trying to win the game, not put on a show.

  18. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    For those criticizing arsenal, they are keeping psg incredibly quiet.. thats quiet some defensive achievement.. 45 mins to go

  19. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Almost 2-0.

  20. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Hincapie has been very good

  21. Sailboats
    • 10 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Penalty for PSG

    1. Sailboats
      • 10 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      1-1 game on !!

  22. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    1-1 Dembele.

  23. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    One of Raya’s better penalty efforts 😆

  24. lilmessipran
    • 13 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Not that he was saving it, but I have never seen Raya jump the right way while saving a pen.

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      He was a yard off his line and a yard to his left before Dembele had even reached the ball 😆

    2. Mr. O'Connell
      • 14 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Did you watch their FA Cup 3rd round game against United about 18 months ago? Was practically diving as the pen taker started the run up.

  25. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Hopefully this match will up now.

    1. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      *pick

  26. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Saka not great last few minutes when in good positions

    1. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Rightfully being subbed

    2. Moon Dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 1 Year
      1 month, 16 days ago

      His price will be interesting next season. If Arsenal continue with this playstyle it might be difficult for him to be value.

      1. Mr. O'Connell
        • 14 Years
        1 month, 16 days ago

        If Elliot Anderson and Gabriel are both 9m, then Saka probably will be 10 still.

  27. Bobby Digital
    • 8 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Saka was poor

  28. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    PSG turning the screw

  29. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Every long throw Rice has taken his front foot has been over the sideline.

  30. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Just get straight to pens. Nobody wants another half hour of this.